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Vienna could stop allowing residents and developers to block trees from being planted on town-owned land next to their properties, but Town Council members want more time to shape the proposed policy.

The council voted 5-2 on Monday, June 1, to table the Green Streets policy update until a July 6 work session.

Under the current policy, property owners can reject town-planted trees in adjacent public rights of way, including areas near sidewalks, parking spaces and utilities. Property owners declined about 18% of the plantings proposed in 2024 and 2025.

The Tree Advocacy Committee has recommended eliminating that opt-out provision. The committee was created through a tree conservation ordinance adopted in 2024 amid concerns about Vienna’s shrinking canopy, which a 2022 study found had declined over the previous decade.

The ordinance requires projects involving at least 2,500 square feet of land to provide tree shade over 10% to 25% of the property, depending on its zoning. Developers must first attempt to preserve existing trees before removing and replacing them to satisfy the 20-year canopy requirement.

Council members did not agree on whether the planting veto should disappear entirely. Some favored applying the requirement only to developers, while others wanted residents to retain a way to challenge decisions by the town arborist.

Councilmember Roy Baldwin called for an “escape valve” that would allow residents to appeal an arborist’s decision to the Town Council.

Councilmember Doug Francis supported ending the developer veto, saying builders should understand that the town intends to plant at least one tree in the adjacent right of way.

Council members also questioned whether town staff could maintain an expanding inventory of trees. Parks and Recreation Director Leslie Herman said a part-time employee is responsible for caring for new trees and that pruning is conducted on a schedule.

Councilmember Chuck Anderson said the council could control the pace of planting through its authority over funding, arguing that maintenance capacity was not the central issue.

After the July 6 work session, Baldwin said the proposal would return to the council’s agenda as soon as practicable.